'IHY for better international interaction on solar science'

Bangalore, Nov 28: The International Heliosphysical Year (IHY), a trans-world cooperation to be launched next year, will immensely benefit the world in stepping up studies of physical mechanisms occurring on the sun and its impact on inter-planetary medium, Indian Institute of Astrophysics Director Siraj S Hasan said.

Speaking at a press conference after inauguration of the second UN/NASA Workshop on 'IHY and Basic Space Science' here yesterday, he said the timing of the IHY, to coincide with the 50th year of the International Geophysical Year (IGY), proved to be a great reaffirmation of scientific community's faith in international cooperative efforts.

The workshop on IHY would bring together nations to coordinate both with instruments and minds, he opined.

IHY aimed at advancing the understanding of the fundamental heliophysical processes that govern the sun, earth and heliosphere.

It would help demonstrate the beauty, relevance and significance of space and earth science to the world, he said.

Dr Hans Haubold, Director of United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, said while the IGY 1957-58 proved highly successful in converting space into an international resource base, IHY would continue its tradition.

He said IHY focused on global outreach to explain to the common people the benefits of space science and a better solar terrestrial interaction between the scientific community.

''The UN, to popularise the space science and sharing of its expertice across the world, is working on a 'tripod concept' of helping installation of modern instruments to study the sun and the heliosphere, encouraging high standard Observatory Analysis and the Outreach Education Programme through which the importance of these studies is disseminated to next generation of space scientists,'' he said.

NASA scientist and IHY International Secretariat member Joseph M Davila said disruptive sun storm activities need to be studied in depth as it could cause serious effects on earth. ''Under IHY programme, we are trying to cut across traditional scientific boundaries to raise a joint scientific approach on the study of the sun. Outreach programme to educate the young and preserving history like saving old papers and artifacts of astrophysics is being carried out. The programme that runs through 2007 to 2009 has 60 countries as its members,'' he said.

Mr Davila said new questions were now being asked in astrophysics. There was a need to set up more observatories around the world. There was a new opportunity and new way of learning and the scientific world should unitedly use it.

Workshop Co-Chairman and Director of NASA (Solar System Exploration) Nat Gopalswamy said that under IHY, modern instruments would be deployed in remote corners and places where there were no observatories.

''We need to study the sun around the globe. Some geographical locations like Africa does not have any instrument. It is important in the new era as space is being increasingly used for human benefits like cell phone, TV and radio technologies. We need to guard satellites from sun storms that may destroy them,'' he added.

UNI